Regardless of whether or not you agree that Pagan, Trout, Libba et al are the people for the job, it's pretty clear that when you finish 15th (as we most likely will) you'd like to think that your board of directors are able to conduct a thorough and professional review of the KEY department in the football club: the football department.

Which means we're relying on our board members to make some pretty key decisions during a very important time in the club's history.

Which, naturally, raises the question: Just who on the board is capable of conducting such a review?

Unfortunately, most of our board members are virgins and haven't been around football clubs long enough to gain the necessary experience to be of much help here. Some of them can probably be bluffed by a coach of Pagan's seniority.

Sticks has the pedigree and playing record, but can be be relied upon to NOT be a nice guy and look at things dispassionately? Does he have the tools to do so anyway?

Gleeson... I'd be interested if anyone knows anything about him.

Does Valmorbida's experience importing tuna help him here? Can Digger's years running an art gallery help us at all?

I really want to know if we've got the people in place to do this. My gut feeling is No - we don't.

Hence, I'd like to see a sub-committee formed with at least six rounds to go, the job of which is to assess exactly what this club needs to do with regards to our football department.

I'd like to see this sub-committee analyse our coaching, our youth development, our recruiting, our training methodology, our sports science capabalities, our injury prevention and management capacities... the whole kit and kaboodle.

Then I'd like the board to take those findings and publish (for all members and supporters to see) exactly what they plan to do as a result of the sub-committee's report.

I know we're going to get a new gym and pool and stuff - but that just brings our facilities up to speed with the rest of the comp. What are we going to do to get ahead, and actually win a flag?

Where's the next Neil Craig? What's the best way to take advantage of the new 'Sydney recruit' policy? Is Collingwood's huge recruiting budget the way forward, or just a case of too much money needing to find an outlet for itself? There are hundreds of questions to be asked and answered.

I don"t want too many 'old' Carlton people on the sub-committee - but I'm happy for a fair representation. I want people who understand exactly what it takes for a club to succeed in 2006-2016 in AFL football.

Do you think this will happen? Do you think that it should?

Sounds like a good idea John but it won't happen.

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"We used to sit around and talk about how bad the game plan was." Anthony Koutoufides

great idea so it will not happen

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

John youre striking the nail on the head with that post.

Its exactly what were doing wrong..

their reckoning is we get the pool and gym it will be ok.
We move to Telstra it is ok.
We will not trade draft picks.. its ok...
We will get early draft picks .. it will be ok.we will scare the people into joining up .. it will be ok..


But what they dont do is WHAT ELSE????? you cant just leave things at that and pretend theyre going to be ok.. cos we need more... much much more .. just to catch up!!!
There is a serious lack of foresight at this footyclub right now!!


We need thinkers at the club.. people open to the way things are done today... and more than that.. people with the foresight to understand the trends before theyre trends... and begin trends .. not follow!!!

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

John M wrote


Fantastic refreshing idea John.

Call it what you like. Due diligence. Report Card. Gap Analysis......but suggestions for improvement from an impartial group is a necessity, and a real step forward out of the dark and into the new era, especially given we have the youngest group in history, with more to come from the superdraft.

We need to fast track development. Mind, body and soul.

Scrutinise everything and everyone and make everyone accountable. Just the way Hawks did with their sub committee for the coaching position.

Gerad Healy...there's a start...understands the body, footy and calls a spade a spade. Availability is the question. There's too many queries and too many questions of the current coaching staff, and we must have answers and put our minds to rest that we are moving in the right direction with the right people.

I don't think the current board are savvy enough, in this area to pass judgement, be impartial, and I certainly don't want to give them an opportunity to pass the buck.

Well said.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Great post, John - Agree with all you say.

Only problem is who is to complete such a task/review? This would be the role of the CEO/President to co-ordinate!!! Think Malouf and or Smorgon are up to it? I don't think so - then who?

Maybe we need a new board - careful what you wish for Wangers!!!

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For some silly reason, you people want to assassinate him, and it's just rubbish. You people. All of you, ALL of you!

I recko nif you appointed Mark Maclure to chair the review panel you'd get fair value for your money.


Like the idea John.
Won't happen. Only a progessive club would undertake that and while we are ambling down the right path in some respects, many others are sprinting.

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

Great idea JohnM.
Gerard Healy, Nigel Smart, Alistair Lynch, Robert Walls to name but a few to form a sub-committee & provide recommendations to the board.
Do it!!

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There's so much I could say...

Exceptional idea JohnM but sadly no-one at the club has the strength to implement.

I don't think that anyone wants to send a message of no faith in the coaching department [CD] by actioning such as strategy.

I think Maclure would be great to head the committee.

Perhaps if Pratt can offer to bail us out on condition that a full review of the CD be made.................

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

No worries we have John Valmorbida

Yes, Rod. He, along with the current board, will guide us to the promised land.

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For some silly reason, you people want to assassinate him, and it's just rubbish. You people. All of you, ALL of you!

Whoever they get they need to have a strong personality to stand up to Pagan and his "attachment". Pagan thinks the playing list is the problem end of story!!!

shear genius.

Brilliant post...

Agreed though that the club will never do it. Too much ego at board level and this would cause a major blow.

However... why don't we (club members) do it ?

Let's set up a webpage with this suggestion and get Carlton members to agree to it by providing their membership numbers and signing up. If someone does this I'll guarantee 5 member signatures straight up.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.